The Hurricanes have swapped defensemen with the Checkers, recalling Ryan Murphy and sending rookie Jaccob Slavin to Charlotte.
Murphy appeared in just two games during his quick stint with the Checkers but continued to be a consistent scorer at this level. The 22-year-old tallied a goal and two assists in those two contests, bringing his AHL total to 44 points (4g, 40a) in 52 games. This past weekend also marked Murphy's return to game action from a concussion he suffered on Nov. 14.
Slavin played six games with Carolina during his first NHL recall, earning his first NHL point Monday night with an assist against the New York Rangers. The rookie appeared in 14 games for the Checkers prior to his recall, recording seven assists and coming in at a team-best plus-six.
The move should see Slavin log a significant amount of ice time in Charlotte, as he was a mainstay in all facets of the game, including special teams, prior to his recall. While they are still missing Rasmus Rissanen due to injury, the Checkers' blue line is as close to full strength as it's been all season, with seven healthy defensemen on the roster.
